Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:44:36 -0700 From: Jeremy Chadwick <koitsu@FreeBSD.org> To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Laptop suggestions? Message-ID: <20080725064436.GA64711@eos.sc1.parodius.com> In-Reply-To: <20080725055135.GN53966@stlux503.dsto.defence.gov.au> References: <1216910072.2251.8.camel@jill.exit.com> <a699ffdd0807240739s60ec59a7q22cf4e53025844d6@mail.gmail.com> <1216945181.1179.23.camel@RabbitsDen> <20080725055135.GN53966@stlux503.dsto.defence.gov.au>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 01:51:35PM +0800, Wilkinson, Alex wrote: > >> If cost is not a big problem, then IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad Series (I prefer > >> T-series) is the best from my past experiences. And you may check following > >As someone who used (and use) 360, 701C, T30, T42p, X60 and T61p, I > >wholeheartedly agree with "past experiences"... with "past" being a key > >word. While I could not complain about FreeBSD support (none of the > >FreeBSD problems I have are ThinkPad-specific), manufacturing quality > >has gone down considerably. My not-two-years-old X60 chipped in places > >and my wife's 8-months-old T61p is no longer capable of keeping the > >screen upright. This is in the stark contrast with T42p I (ab)used for > >$work for more than three years, with the only visible outcome being > >loss of the caption on the "Enter" key. > > So if Thinkpads are no longer the go ... what is ? "I'm buying a new computer, what should I buy?" Buy whatever suits your needs, and feels comfortable for you. I'd recommend, if at all possible, going to a major computer store or electronics outlet and trying out a Lenovo. Spend 30 minutes with it. I realise you can't run FreeBSD on them, but get a feel for the machine itself -- if the keyboard works well with your fingers, if you like the mixed touchpad/fingertip mouse, if it feels sturdy to you, if you like the LCD, etc... Example: I really did not like the weight of the T60p. I'm a cyclist and do not drive, so hauling a laptop around means I prefer it to be light. My employer requires that all the T60ps use the larger battery, which plays a significant role. I tried a smaller model (I believe one with a 14" screen), and the weight was wonderful -- but after 20 minutes of use, I started experiencing headaches and nausea. The backlighting on the LCD was the cause, while I had no such problems using the T60p. My point is, you gotta use the machine for a little bit (even if in Windows) and get a feel for it. I know this is hard to do when most vendors nowadays expect people to just click-and-buy, but when spending that kind of money on something, it's worth trying first. With regards to OS compatibility, this is a difficult one. Googling to see what other people have experienced is pretty much the only option, or you get to find out yourself. Ideally in this day and age, you shouldn't have to worry about "hardware compatibility" with an OS; the OS should work with what you have, not the other way around. -- | Jeremy Chadwick jdc at parodius.com | | Parodius Networking http://www.parodius.com/ | | UNIX Systems Administrator Mountain View, CA, USA | | Making life hard for others since 1977. PGP: 4BD6C0CB |
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?20080725064436.GA64711>